San Diego Philanthropists Donate $1M to UCSD

Daniel and Phyllis Epstein committed gifts to UC San Diego totaling $1 million to fund a variety of causes. Photo courtesy of Daniel and Phyllis Epstein

Daniel and Phyllis Epstein, La Jolla residents and philanthropists, have committed $1 million to UC San Diego. Their hope is to fund various projects, including research by Department of Urology Chair Christopher Kane, M.D.; creating a faculty fellowship at the Rady School of Management; and helping to underwrite “Inheritance,” a chamber opera about gun violence in America that debuted in October, according to a news release.

Prior to this donation, the couple funded two endowed faculty chairs in management leadership at the Rady School of Management, and an endowed faculty fellowship and fellowship in piano performance in the Department of Music.

“UC San Diego is so important to the community, including contributing to the regional economy and producing talent for our skilled workforce,” said Daniel Epstein via a press release. “That is why we support the university in so many areas, from healthcare and research to the arts.”

Daniel Epstein is a Trustee Emeritus of the UC San Diego Foundation, having served from 2003 to 2009. He is the founder of ConAm Management Corporation, a national apartment management firm.

Phyllis Epstein is serving her second term as trustee of the UC San Diego Foundation Board and is involved with the university’s ArtPower program and the School of Global Policy and Strategy. She co-founded the California Music Project, which aims to increase the number of music educators throughout California.